47 Cumulus Stations Moving to CBS Sports Radio

The New York Post reports that 47 Cumulus Media stations are dropping ESPN Radio to affiliate with the new CBS Sports Radio. The move comes in the wake of the company’s deal with CBS to distribute the new sports network and will bring the number of CBS Sports Radio stations to about 100 for its January 2nd launch of 24 hour programming. CBS Radio president Dan Mason said to the Post, “ESPN affiliates are in small markets. Maybe you find that adds up to a lot of audience, Don’t forget that CBS Radio owns most of the top-10 sports stations in the US, and with Cumulus that’s formidable. ESPN has had the market much to themselves, we’re the new entry and we think we put together formidable talent.” ESPN SVP Traug Keller commented that the move “has no material effect on us. There’s only three or four Cumulus stations in the top 50.” He also mentioned that replacement stations for affiliates in Atlanta and Birmingham have already been found.